One of the most perplexing cases to come across the desk of a PI is the theft of valuable art. After all, why would anyone steal fine art, since it’s so difficult to sell? Not only is it off limits to legitimate art dealers, but the vast majority of private collectors would never buy it, either.

Art is very easy to damage. The theft itself, the transportation, and improper storage seriously erode the value and therefore the presumed payoff for the theft. Contrary to what you’ll see in the movies, art theft is not done by people who love art and want to hide it in the basement. In fact, the thieves often leave evidence of careless handling, which ads terrifically to the level of pain experienced by the museum staff or the private collector. What’s more, if there is any sentimental value attached to the artwork, the thieves don’t care about that, either.

The tools for investigating art theft are basically the same as what we use for any other investigation: surveillance, photos, interviews, and public records. Private Investigators have no police power to detain suspects for questioning, enter buildings or private property to conduct searches, or use a technique known as pretexting, where an investigator might put on a lab coat and pretend to be a medical professional in order to access information. It’s okay to lie, but there is a fine line between lying and out-and-out impersonation of someone in a privileged position.

With the motives of the theft being so unclear and the powers of the PI being so narrow, what advantage do we have over police?

Unquestionably, the most important advantage is one of focus. While the police attention is scattered among a multitude of cases, the PI can focus a laser-sharp beam on the objectives of the client. (That’s not a license to overstep boundaries, but does help in following details that might seem insignificant to police.) Most of the stereotypes about PI’s are laughable, but one might have a kernel of truth: PI’s tend to be dogged in their ability to track down evidence and unravel the truth.

Why would a criminal want to hold on to fine art? One theory is that it is easier for a criminal to hide and store art than suitcases of cash. There doesn’t have to be any paper trail, bank statements, marked bills, or other traceable evidence. If arrested on another charge, such as a drug bust, the criminal can use his knowledge of the art’s whereabouts as a bargaining chip. And, even though he might not have taken good care of the art, the museums, owners, and the public still want it back.

Another theory is that thieves use art as collateral for big purchases like massive drug deliveries. After all, if you’re buying a $1.5 million load of contraband, is it easier to hand over that much cash, or deliver collateral that can easily be held and transferred? Having valuable collateral that the criminal doesn’t care about personally is a big advantage. It greases the wheels of criminal commerce, allowing the drug buyer to start making sales and paying off his or her debt to the seller.

PI’s are the ultimate undercover agents. They do not have badges and can arrange their cars, looks, and even the contents of their pockets so as to be unsuspicious. They can insert themselves into conversations in any bar or public place. They can travel to wherever the leads take them. In fact, Bob Wittman of the FBI’s Art Crime Team states that the ability to travel and speak knowledgably about art is essential to recovering it.

While we do recover stolen belongings, including art, all the time, there are some famous heists that have never been solved. In March of 1990, 13 pieces of priceless art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. And to this date, 25 years later, not a single piece was ever recovered. Suspects have died off, given the police the run-around, and even gone to prison and served long sentences. But the art itself has never been found.

If you have fine art, it is a very good idea to keep pictures of it in a safe deposit box in a different location than the artwork itself. Try to take photos of the back or any distinguishing characteristics. It’s good to use professional help because fingerprints, strong lighting, humidity, and many other factors can damage the art, even if you can’t tell by looking at it. It’s also important to carry insurance on any very expensive possession.

Here at BaliDetective, we solve missing or stolen property cases all the time, with discretion and with the highest standards in conduct.

Have you ever had any valuable objects stolen from you, and if so, what did you do to recover it?

The Pros and Cons of Womanly Charm

What are the most commonly used techniques for delivering investigative services, and what are the pros and cons of using a female private instigator?

Remember that the Private Investigator does not have police powers and has to rely solely on wits, diligence, and sustainable, legal means to gather information. Otherwise, the PI will not be in business for long.

The three mainstays of the investigation business are surveillance, interview, and public record. Women are certainly capable of handling all three with ease.

While it might be harder for a good-looking woman to melt into the background than a man, all Private Investigators must learn this skill. Can you imagine doing a surveillance job wearing a bright red dress and stiletto heels? Just like male investigators, female investigators learn how to mute the colors and dress for blending in. They can also use tricks such as changing sweaters at intervals while tailing a suspect, so the suspect does not realize that he or she is being watched. Also, women tend to pick up on the styling that is predominant in various sections of town. Dressing too fancy in certain neighborhoods will call attention, and dressing too poorly in other sections will draw attention also. Adjusting makeup and accessories will also play a role.

Another aspect of surveillance that is often overlooked is the verbal skill of blending in. On the off chance that the Private Investigator is drawn into an unwanted conversation, the investigator has to know how to talk the talk and quickly disengage while not arousing any suspicions.

While studies show that women tend to be more aware of semantics and language and more articulate than men overall, women have to deal with nonverbal cues that will attract males, no matter how good their conversational skills. I’ve known women who would purposely pad their bodies to make them look a little pudgy to avoid unwanted male attention while tracking a suspect. This, in conjunction with using street vernacular, helps them. It might seem absurd, and it might not speak highly of societal realities for women, but women who want to remain in private investigative work seem to take these realities in stride and take pride in winning the information they are seeking.

When it comes to interviews, women tend to excel. People, whether male or female, tend to be comfortable confiding in their female friends. Linguist Deborah Tannen’s research showed that women tend to make more encouraging comments while listening, such as, “Uh, huh,” or “I see.” This often makes other women feel important and appreciated during conversations with a female Private Investigator. It often makes men feel that the woman listener agrees with him, even if the woman is only trying to communicate that she’s hearing what he said. In either case, women obviously have some advantages in interviewing, even if it’s only due to societal beliefs that women are not as threatening as men.

Private Investigators rely heavily on public records. This includes sales of real estate, birth and death certificates, licensing, and everything else imaginable. There are public records for just about every area of life. Women tend to be very patient when going through massive quantities of paperwork.

As mentioned in a previous article on the advantages of a stereotype on our Bali Eye Private Investigation Agency website, women are often more open to alternative theories and sometimes this use of imagination results in finding the answer, even if it wasn’t the most likely one. This ability to not only find and catalog facts, but to put them together cohesively, adds to the effectiveness of female Private Investigators.

There is one more absolutely essential factor in investigations. That is the use of paid informants who will introduce an investigator to people who might have information as to what really happened. While risky, it is sometimes absolutely necessary to associate personally with a suspect who may have committed a crime and has every incentive to cover it up. Women, while perhaps more easily introduced to a crime circle because of their ability to seem less intrusive and more desirable, also take a huge risk. If they associate with a group like this for long, it becomes more dangerous with time. Therefore, they have to have some street smarts to compensate for the risk, and they have to be willing to get out as soon as they have the information they need. The need for plausible cover stories is very important here.

Paradoxically, there is no stereotype that fits everybody. You could easily find a male Private Investigator who comes across as very easy to talk to and very nonthreatening, while you could also find female Private Investigators who push the boundaries of assertiveness and could frighten a suspect into spilling the beans. The world is tending towards more equalized opportunity based on abilities rather than stereotypes.

Any activity in life has risks. The risks of private investigation are very real. However, our own experience with women investigators in Bali Eye Private Investigation Agency and in our sister organization, Indonesia Private Investigation Agency, indicates that women can play vital and effective roles in investigative services, helping many people in the process.

From time to time, a private investigator might be asked to track down a missing car. A car can be stolen from a public place, private residence, or a car rental agency.

Types of Car Thefts:

During economically challenged times, car thefts increase. Some people try to steal cars from rental agencies by using fake IDs to rent cars, and then simply never return them. Some steal cars for their own use, whether for regular daily use or for transporting contraband and later abandonment. Some turn the stolen vehicles over to chop shops, where the cars will be used for parts. Some just want a car to take on a race or joyride, and will abandon the car after using it for a period of time.

Some will sell a stolen car to an unsuspecting person, who has no idea that he or she just purchased a stolen vehicle. Sometimes, the owner sold the car in good faith to a person who passed a bad cheque. In other cases, a couple may have surrendered their second car to a re-leasing company to cut down on expenses; however, the car may have been leased to a “customer” who disappeared. Thefts may be for convenience – the thief may have some stolen goods to transport.

No matter what the reason for the theft, it’s up to the private investigator to use his or her ingenuity to figure out what happened and track down the car. It’s always a good idea to file a police report first, but because the police might not be able to take the time to track down your vehicle, a good Private Investigator can come in handy.

How We Track Down the Car:

A Private investigator will use tools such as phone calls, casual conversations, and interviews. A good Investigator knows how to word questions and statements to get the most cooperation. Most people are shocked if someone they know has stolen a vehicle, and they will want to cooperate. The trick is in putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and tracking down hard information that is admissible in a court case.

Investigators can use license plate scanners, GPS tracking that comes with certain cars, handheld devices, cameras mounted on cars, or interviews with anyone whose job requires driving around, such as delivery workers. PI Agencies in some countries might have memberships in professional organizations where information gathered from license plate scanners is stored in a database. Surveillance on public streets is generally legal and does not overstep privacy issues. One popular technique is keep a watchlist of all vehicles reported stolen by owners, and using the scanners to detect license plates of parked vehicles. Since thieves often switch license plates, it can take time.

The human element in the form of social media and community alerts can work wonders, too. Many people have assisted in recovering their own cars by posting pictures of their stolen cars on social media and asking people to share. It’s never a good idea for a friend to confront a car thief, but it can be really useful if they snap pictures or report sightings of the stolen vehicle without getting noticed by the perpetrator.

Clumsy planning on the part of the thief helps, too. Sometimes a thief will falsify an ID card to rent a car that they never return, but use a real address of someone they know. As we interview the person whose address was used, the person might recognize the description of the thief and give us clues as to where to find him or her. We can then conduct a surveillance and get videos of the perpetrator using the stolen car, which will be admissible in court. Once we have enough evidence to stand up in court, we can wait for the perpetrator to turn in for the night and immobilize the car with car boots before there is any attempt to make contact.

Over the years, Private Investigators form relationships with informants. Knowing how to befriend people who can supply information is golden. Cooperation from all sources is the most important key to solving crimes, and a good Private Investigator knows how to form those relationships.

Other sources of information, although not glamorous, are salvage yards, auto manufacturers, trash bins on public streets, and hidden cameras in public areas. We can also keep lists of vehicles with out-of-area registration tags on them, check on the vehicle registration for those tags, and track down the lienholder (lender) for the vehicle. That is public information and we can call the lender to see if the vehicle is stolen.

Another easy way to verify if a car is the one we’re looking for is to check the VIN number, which is often in plain site on the driver’s side.

Repossession of the Car:

Once the car is located, it can be repossessed rather easily and the Private Investigator and client will agree upon the method in advance. Upon finding the car, it can be booted or disabled before the PI does one of three things depending on what the client wants: knocks on the suspect’s door and asks for the keys, notify the police, or notify the client. It is never a good idea for the client to contact the perpetrator, but the client could contact the police.

If the client is a business such as a rental car agency, the client may instruct the Private Investigator to repossess the vehicle. A team of two PIs will drive to the location, boot the car, and explain to the perpetrator who they are and why they are there. They will cite to the violator the specific vehicle codes that were violated and the jail time or fines attached with such crimes. They will be firm but also very professional. Most perpetrators will hand over the keys without too much fuss once confronted. If not, a tow truck can be called to remove the vehicle. This should not be done without hard evidence and knowing the laws in your area.

How to Prevent Theft:

Most vehicles sold nowadays have key codes or tracking systems such as LoJack or Onstar. Some have microdots that tag individual parts of the car, so they can be identified if the car goes to a chop shop. However, even very sophisticated systems can be bypassed by professional thieves.

The best car theft prevention devices, such as ignition interlock and pedal locks, disable the vehicle so that it can’t be moved without the right key. If your car does not come with these devices, you can buy a self-setting immobilizer. Always lock your vehicle and park in the safest spots you can.

Unfortunately, car thefts are very common. Using reasonable security precautions and keeping a photograph and copies of vehicle registration information can help you in case of a theft. A good Private Investigator will work for your better interests in recovering the car.

Private Investigators are always thinking about safety. It’s a big part of the job, and our awareness always has to be taking safety into consideration. For that reason, I recommend that if you’re going on a trip, you share the details of your trip with somebody who’s not going, and here are five reasons why.

Your Home is Safer.

When you’re away and your friend or a friendly neighbor knows it, that person can check on your house for you, make sure to pick up your newspaper so the house doesn’t look vacant, and even put on a porch light for you just before you return. In fact, you may consider installing timers on your lamps that will turn on and off your lamps around the house on various intervals so the house still looks lived in. You can stop the newspaper, but there’s no substitute for a friendly person looking out for you.

You’re Safer.

If your friends or family know your itinerary and you’ve made arrangements to call, they’ll know if you failed to show up at your destination within a reasonable amount of time. By the same token, if you don’t arrive home by a certain date, concerned friends and family members will try to reach you. If your car has broken down in a place with no traffic and a dead cell phone, having someone who knows when you’re supposed to be home could really be handy.

Reduces Stress.

Nobody wants a person worrying so much about their every move that they become more like busybodies than friendly helpers. But having a person who knows your plans can save a lot of stress. Let’s say, for example, that you decide to moderate your trip after you’ve left. Notifying someone at home can save on stress and unnecessary missing persons reports.

Social Media Stories.

Fun is a valid reason to do a lot of things, and if you’re the kind of person who likes to get your friends involved in your life, chronicling your trip on social media could be a lot of fun. Some people have made professional careers out of travel blogging, so why not stretch out a bit and show some pictures to your friends as you go? They’ll appreciate it, and it’ll feel almost like you’ve been on vacation together.

One word of caution, though. Share your trip on social media, but not necessarily your advance plans, at least not in any great detail. There are stalkers in the world looking for an easy target, so instead of giving your exact street address in Barcelona, you could simply tell your friends you’ll be staying in Barcelona. You do want one person to have your street address, just in case you need to be reached or you get waylaid on the way to your destination.

You Might Need a Pick-Up.

Don’t forget that you might just need a drop-off and pick-up at the airport. Sharing your travel plans with a trusted friend well in advance of your trip might just remind you to make those arrangements well in advance.

These are my reasons for encouraging people to share their travel plans with a trusted friend or two. Peace of mind is a precious commodity, especially on a trip.

We all want our lives to be in order, and when we document the correct bits of information and find the proper storage modality for them, we create order and peace of mind.

Here are some categories of information you’ll need to store and where.

Life Records – Store in Safe Deposit Box

These are records that would be hard to replace if lost, and in some cases, could be harmful if in the wrong hands. For example, it might not be terribly difficult to replace a government ID card such as the social security cards provided in the U.S., but an identity thief would be delighted to have yours.

Here are some examples of life records: Birth, Death, Marriage, Naturalization, Military Service, Adoption, Divorce, and Dissolution records. In USA, Social Security and Medicare cards.

Other examples include proof of ownership: Titles to house, car, boat, or camper are included here. You also may have proof of authenticity for paintings, works of art, or jewelry. You may have a copyright for a book or other intellectual property, or a patent for something you invented. You also may be in possession of a note (record of money someone else owes you). Your original stocks, bonds, and mutual fund purchase records can be stored here (if not at the broker’s office).

Original signed contracts or copies can also be kept in your safe deposit box, such as pre-nuptial agreements, wills, Living Trusts, insurance policies, lease agreements, and payment schedules for notes or mortgages. If you have financial records stored at the broker’s office or elsewhere, you’ll need a list of everything and where it’s stored.

You also might make a video of all your possessions and store an electronic copy in your safe deposit box along with an itemized list of the purchase price, date of purchase, purchase price, and current value of each item in your video.

Now that almost everything can be stored electronically, it’s very important to keep copies in separate locations. If you have a house fire that destroys your computer, that won’t be so devastating if your backup storage is located in the safe deposit box or a storage unit far from home. And those backup storages should be changed out on a fairly frequent basis to minimize loss.

Note that you’ll get two keys to the safe deposit box, so give one copy to a trusted person who doesn’t live with you. In case of your incapacity, a house fire, or a natural disaster, the other key won’t be destroyed and the holder of that copy will be able to access your records and take care of things for you.

Active Records – Store at Home

You have some records that are in use or may be in use at any given time. These include unpaid bills, resumes, recommendation letters, insurance policies, transcripts and diplomas, an inventory of everything in your safe deposit box, your bank books, a list of all your bank accounts and holdings, your business records if you work from home, and contact information of a person who can step in for you if you’re incapacitated. You’ll also want your burial instructions, warrantees, and guarantees in your active records.

Inactive Records – Store at Home

This is where you’ll store paid bills, cancelled cheques, past tax returns, past employment records, and family health records that may help you if you find yourself with a genetic condition.

Some of these items have been listed under two categories. That means that they could be stored in either location, or that you might consider taking a photocopy of at least the most important pages of those documents and storing them in two places.

Make sure and go through all your records at least once a year and possibly twice, mainly so you can find everything you need instantly and also so you can toss out or shred items you no longer need. Experts recommend January as a good time, since that’s the time you’re going to gather your tax information.

I hope you enjoy this list as well as the sense of satisfaction you feel when you get completely organized!

I was going through some old papers in a stack of boxes in a warehouse, and found some school notes taken back in the 1960’s in elementary school. The notes were very clear. The elementary school teacher was teaching the kids about animal instinct, but stated that humans had lost instinct long ago in ancient times.

I’m not sure we really know why birds fly south for the winter and how animals can tell when a tsunami is about to hit. But a lot of private investigators believe that following a gut-level instinct can inform and sharpen a search for the truth. In my experience, following a hunch – instinct – may or may not get you to the exact solution, but it’s almost never a waste of time, because it sharpens your idea of what the story is going to turn out to be.

When should you learn to pay attention to your gut-level instincts?

In Cases of Your Safety or the Safety of Another.

Have you ever been walking down the street and felt a tingling feeling on your back? Sometimes your ears, nose, and eyes are experiencing impressions that you’re not fully aware of consciously, because you’re thinking about something else. But your body seems to know. You’re not always right, and we need to use our heads too, but there have been many cases when a person felt they were being followed or watched, and they were right. There are also cases where a person felt concern for a child’s safety and their feelings proved to be right.

Relationship Decisions.

New relationships are great, because both parties are excited and expect the very best. There’s nothing better than riding the wave of that new relationship and enjoying wherever it takes you. But, at some point, if you get a funny feeling about your new partner, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it. For many couples, once the “honeymoon” is over, there are very subtle changes in the other spouse’s personality. A few harsh words can easily be ignored, but when you really start to feel that something is wrong, do your best to honor your own gut-level instincts. It could be nothing, and maybe you’ll resolve the problem over time. But if your instinct is right, it may go badly if you hesitate.

Weighing Up Alternatives.

When something’s bothering you and a stack of alternative courses of action are piled up in your mind, sometimes it’s hard to decide which action to choose. One thing I always do is imagine taking each of the alternative roads, and then noticing which alternative makes me feel a sense of calm or relief. When I find one that definitely makes me relax instead of panic, I know I’m on to something. More often than not, that sense of relief is an indicator of which is the best solution.

I don’t know why it works, but I do know that it seems to work. Following my gut-level instincts has served me very well, and helps me stay on top of my game.

A Private Investigator has an interesting niche. Categorized as neither police nor entirely civilian, a PI can do certain things that police and civilians can’t. Let’s explore some of the things your PI should NOT be doing for you. If you find that he or she is, get out of your contract with them as quickly as you can and terminate the relationship.

A Private Investigator Can’t Break the Law.

For many people who believe everything they see on TV, a PI is a mysterious character who can take great liberties with the law in their country or jurisdiction. You’ve probably seen PI’s kidnap, hold people by force, beat up people to get them to talk, bribe officers, break into buildings, impersonate persons of authority to get others to talk, break into windows, photograph records without a warrant, etc. Basically, if it’s against the law, a PI can’t do it, even though there are certain privileges that come with being a PI.

A Private Investigator Can’t Wiretap and Is Not a Spy.

It’s illegal to record phone calls and conversations without informing the person being recorded, especially in environments where the person has a legal expectation of privacy. A PI might be more likely to be in a place where he can overhear certain conversations, because a PI can be on private property listening in as long as it’s not in violation of the law. If your PI is told to leave the property, either verbally or by a “No Trespassing” sign, and ignores that request, your PI is violating the trespassing laws. If you find out that your PI is recording people without their knowledge and you’re paying the investigator, terminate the contract immediately.

It’s Illegal for a Private Investigator to Impersonate.

If your investigator goes into a hospital, dons surgical scrubs, parades into a patient’s room, and proceeds to read the patient’s chart, that PI has just broken the law. Sure, you’ve seen it on TV shows, but that doesn’t make it legal and (hopefully) you won’t see any behavior like this in real life. Besides, it’s usually much easier to simply go to the hospital room, strike up a conversation with the patient, and get permission to glance at the chart. In real life, there’s almost always an easier, less dramatic way to get things done.

Your PI Must Not Trespass.

As stated above, your PI can’t break and enter, ignore “Keep Out” signs, steal evidence from any location, or just generally act sleazy. It only works in TV and movies.

Your PI Must Not Commit Battery.

If your PI grabs someone by the arm and tries to detain him or her, your PI is committing battery. Your PI will not get into nearly the number of fights you might expect him to. Your PI will use powers of observation and communication, not force.

With all these restrictions, you might wonder how much of the intelligence is gathered. It can be at the library, or via a series of interviews, talking with informants, and plain old surveillance. A PI usually tries to stay low profile, so communication skills are a must.

What CAN a Private Investigator Do?

In some countries, an officer cannot approach a private residence without reason.

That’s not true of a PI. The PI is certainly welcome to stroll up to the door just like any citizen, which makes it much easier for that PI to overhear certain conversations. While he might not be able to record them, it’s certainly okay to take notes. But the minute he’s detected and asked to leave, he must comply.

A PI Has Access to Certain Records that the Public Can’t Get.

This does depend on the country but in some cases a PI can access certain databases of banks, cell phones, property, and background checks that the general public can’t see. The only restriction is that the access needs to relate to a case that the PI is currently investigating. The PI is not a sworn officer, but there are some areas of trust that come if there is licensing.

A PI Can Stay Neutral in a Partnership.

Whether it’s a business or marriage partnership, a PI can be hired by one of the partners to investigate the other. There is no legal obligation to be loyal to both.

I hope this has been a fun glimpse into the life of a PI and what the PI can and shouldn’t do to help you with your case.

What Your Need To Know

Private investigators are helpful to lawyers, companies and also individuals in helping them uncover information. They can be hired to perform background checks on applicants before employment, do credit checks or conduct surveillance on individuals and to monitor them to see what activities they are involved in among many other kinds of investigative matters. They however do not have any police powers to gather the needed information for their clients so they can work on it. If you are thinking of becoming a private investigator, there are a few things you might need to know.

This field is wide

There are different kinds of private investigators thanks to the different areas of specialization the job comes with. You therefore might require choosing a specialty or you can take up several areas to handle. You have the option of being a corporate investigator, computer forensic investigator or a financial investigator. You can select an area you are most interested in or several you know you are good at.

You might need an associate degree

Even though formal education is not really mandatory to become a private investigator, you might find it very beneficial to pursue postgraduate education. Criminal justice courses or police science courses can turn out to be most useful in your line of duty. Associate degree programs you can choose include criminal investigations, criminology and juvenile delinquency among others.

A bachelor’s degree is beneficial too

This is considering that some types of this job can be demanding requiring a degree. Aspiring corporate investigators will for instance, find it necessary to take up a program in accounting or business administration or other related programs. The degree expands your knowledge in the specific area you have selected to base your investigative work.

It is necessary to gain skills and experience

Clients are inclined towards finding experienced and skilled PIs. You must therefore find a way of acquiring the necessary experience you need in your area. You can find a job in a private security firm or a law enforcement agency to build your experience. The fact is, most private investigators have military or police backgrounds, but anybody can become one without this prior experience. The working experience will help you develop skills of working alone or in a group, develop needed communication skills and know how to make sound decisions.

In Some Countries You will need a license

Investigative work is delicate and can become dangerous at some point. Most countries and states require you be licensed to handle this kind of work. The compliance requirements will differ from place to place and you will need to adhere to your local requirements. You might be required to give and pass an exam on laws and regulations to gain your license. It can be illegal to do investigative work without a proper license. It is important to find out everything about private investigators before deciding to become one. You will find it easier knowing what is expected from you and what to expect as you work.

In Indonesia where IPIA and BEPIA operates there is no licensing of private investigators. However our Director of Investigations has studied and passed a Certificate in Investigative work that is accredited by the Australian Government.

Becoming a private investigator and a good one at that, you will need to play your role and do your homework. When everything is working right, you can be sure to achieve your full potential in your line of duty.

There are times you should consider turning to an investigator for help, and other times when a private investigator is really not what you need. Here are a few guidelines for you.

Good Indicators that You Can Use a Private Investigator’s Help

You’re a Lawyer.

Attorneys often use investigators to track down any details that the police might have missed when working on a case. The police represent the prosecutors, not the defense, so if an attorney believes she can find evidence that refutes the charges, she’ll hire a private investigator to root out the truth. Or, if the plaintiff believes that the police are purposely or accidentally failing to do a proper investigation, a private investigator can be used.

You Suspect Your Spouse is Cheating.

This is an unfortunate occurrence, but it has to be dealt with. Often, a spouse who is disenchanted with the marriage will seek an affair but hang on to the marriage for financial gain. It’s a sticky situation and because no actual crime is being committed by the simple act of adultery, the police don’t want to get involved. There could possibly be a conspiracy between the cheating spouse and his or her lover to defraud the jilted spouse out of money, and that would be a crime, but usually there is just the simple fact of adultery and it has to be proven, especially when there’s a pre-nuptial agreement in force.

You’re Defending Yourself Against an Unjust Accusation.

Sometimes people attack someone else’s reputation unjustly, and the accused can receive material damage, meaning that the damage to reputation translates to loss of business or other financial stream. But no matter the reason for the character assassination, investigators get hired to find out the truth behind the rumors and rancor. Often, this kind of back-stabbing perpetrator will back down once he or she finds out that there’s an investigator on the case.

You’re Running a Big Department Store.

It’s no secret that stores and other businesses hire investigators. They are extremely useful in detecting shoplifting, vandalism, and other losses that can cost in the millions depending on the size of the chain or the type of merchandise that’s being sold. These may or may not be set up as security personnel that you usually see posted at the doors. Often, the investigators are dressed in plain clothes and either circulate around the store or stay out of sight monitoring surveillance cameras.

You Want Information About Your Relatives, Predecessors, or Inheritance

If you have missing relatives, a PI might be apt to spend more time and resources tracking them down for you. Or, if you suspect something has gone wrong with the process of handing down property, an investigator can help.

Here are some reasons you should not be using an investigator.

You’re Just Trying to Ruin Someone’s Reputation.

If you have a personal beef with somebody and you’re just digging for dirt to use against them, you might consider de-stressing another way and letting it go. Unless there’s been substantial financial or physical harm done to you, you could be better off investing in stress-relieving activities like sports, talking to a counselor, or meditation.

Anger is a very real thing and needs resolution, and many people seek to discredit the person that hurt them rather than learning the very real skill that will satisfy them and build a better life going forward, and that is the skill of using nasty things that people do to motivate them to succeed.

You Need the Police.

When there’s an actual crime involved, you’ve got to report it to the police. A PI can help you enormously in sticky situations that have a big effect on your peace of mind and life, but if you’re being stalked, threatened, or hurt in any way, it’s a police matter and you need to start using them to document abuses and interview involved parties even if you’re not ready to file charges. Sometimes, simply reporting abuse will stop it, but when it doesn’t, it never hurts to have reported all the priors so the records reflect them in a way that’s admissible in court.

Hope you enjoyed these lists, and remember that we are here to help you with your investigations when needed.

What Your Private Investigator Friend Won’t Tell You

You might think that it would be exciting to have a friend in the Private Investigations industry. You might expect stories of dangerous assignments, criminals being taken down, and little old ladies getting justice after getting ripped off.

In reality, you might not hear anything exciting from your dear friend the PI. That’s because confidentiality is the main priority in our work, and common-sense rules for NOT spilling the beans. After all, if a PI can’t keep the lips sealed, then he or she is not too easily trusted by clients wishing their cases to be discreet. Also, informants would have to be lunatics to help out a PI who will carelessly brag and accidentally reveal anything that would help a private citizen figure out details about a case.

So here are five things a PI friend will never tell you.

If he’s doing something dangerous.

A Private Investigator’s never going to tell you when he’s taking risks. It might be tempting, because we’d all love to have backup, but in reality, the untrained so-called backup is more likely to make matters worse. The best defense is melting into the background.

Who she’s working for.

Clients demand confidentiality. And they won’t refer any friends to you if you’ve got the “gift of the gab.” New clients often sign contracts and normally confidentiality agreements or Non Disclosure Agreements form part of it.

Who or what he’s investigating.

Expecting to hear a lot of stories? Don’t be disappointed when they don’t come. For reasons of safety, efficiency, and confidentiality, you won’t hear about cases.

Exact locations where she’s been.

Again, this makes sense. If the PI starts revealing where she’s going, then you nosy friends might just decide to drop by! That would be a disaster, as any “visitors” would definitely draw attention to the PI. The other danger is that even with only a location, some people can figure out too many details about what’s going on.

When he’ll be back.

The PI doesn’t even know when he’ll be back. PI’s will sometimes have to go to extremes to stay on the job very long hours with no breaks for surveillance work. Or, if a trail is really hot, a PI never knows how much time he’ll spend tracking it down.

Okay, those are some of the main things you’ll never get out of your PI friend. And here are five things he or she can tell you (WARNING: these are not nearly so interesting):

Where she got licensed or qualified.

This is public information, so there’s no problem revealing this “not very juicy” detail.

When his license is up for renewal.

Again, a boring bureaucratic detail like this is not only fully available for discussion, but equally sleep inducing.

Funny stories that don’t reveal any confidential information.

Yes, a PI can tell you funny, generic stories about things that happened on the job, as long as they don’t lead to any detail. Of course, sometimes the punchline will have to be omitted for confidentiality’s sake.

What he testified to in open court.

Once a case has been in open court and reported in the paper, and your friend’s name and picture have been published, he can tell you what he said. However, you’ve already read about it in the paper.

What her specialty is.

Your close-lipped PI friend can tell you that she specializes in tax, child custody, car theft, or any of a number of specialties. But even there, depending on the specialty, she might be reluctant. Freedom to operate without anyone’s attention is a valuable commodity in this line of work.